Solvang + the Santa Ynez Valley

+plus it's fall (even if it still doesn't quite feel like it) - so yes, your in for a special fall recipe!

Sooooo this weekend, we took a break from it all.
Drove up the PCH, all the way to one of my favorite places I've ever experienced in life.
Solvang + the rest of the Santa Ynez Valley. I thank my best friend for ever taking me there to begin with a couple years ago. It's one of those places in my mind, I keep close, and special, cause it has so many beautiful feelings and memories attached when I think of that place. And then just this spring, my aunt and mom came to visit so we went there as well for the day.
I finally got to take my boyfriend this time- he's never been. And I've always wanted to go with him and have a romantic weekend away. He really loved it. His family came the next day to visit for the day and they loved it to. It's so quiet and peaceful and relaxing, it's amazing. You don't even have to drink any of the delicious wines to feel that! Although it sure helps make it that much sweeter ;)
Something so nice to see about this place is everyone enjoying their time. Noone is in a rush, people enjoy, relax, are with family or their loved ones. Living in L.a., it's hard to see that through all of the concrete and business. So taking a break and coming here this weekend, was truly amazing for me. I come from the south, so greenery, and family time, is not something we take lightly. I really appreciate nature and quality time of just being with each other and enjoying. I recommend to anyone- to come to this place, for just that.

  

So sad to say goodbye to Solvang and the rest of the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. But I know there will be many more trips to come, just this year alone. :) And next year as well. I'm a traveling soul. My heart doesn't stay in just one place, I love to go visit everywhere. It's funny, because yes- I am a home body, I'm not one to go out on weekends to bars, etc. or even like going to the mall to go shopping. My main time spent anywhere is work or home, or the grocery store. My passion for cooking is far greater than any other thing that passes the time. I love making our food- knowing where it came from- and especially just creating new dishes...

This next dish though- is from my favorite site- www.ohsheglows.com
I've been following this vegan website for about 4 years now. And so thankful that I came across it all for a green smoothie recipe :) Now I've made lotsssss of her dishes. especially her desserts. But this sauce has been my favorite for a while. And spaghetti squash, well if you know me, you know I'm obsessed with it ;) and SO HAPPY it's back in season! The thing I love most about it is it's natural first off, cause it's simply a vegetable. but it's magical!
Easiest technique to cooking it.
Cut the whole squash in half, scoop out the seeds in the middle of each side, preheat oven to 450, let cook for about 30 minutes.. Cool it off for about 10, and then take a fork and scrape the sides of the squash, and voo-la, you have spaghetti squash! It's so awesome. I'm in love with this squash cause it's allllll about the sauce. There are no calories or carbs in the 'spaghetti noodles'. So it's a very light dinner, but filling!. Perfect! and warm, for the cool fall nights.

Nothing more exciting than going to farmers markets in the fall time, and looking at all the fall vegetables and flowers. :) Now you can grab a squash next time and you'll know what to make for dinner! Hope you're having a beautiful beginning of October!


Avocado Alfredo Cream Sauce Recipe Here.
-courtesy of Ohsheglows.com

Avocado Alfredo Cream Sauce

confessions of the sometimes vegan.

I'm not gonna lie. It's hard to keep this 100% vegan thing going.
ALOT of accidents happen. Meaning things- I don't check on purpose, cause in my mind, uh duhiee, are vegan. Yeah, no. Not so much. Pancakes- healthy buckwheat berry pancakes- for 'kids' at work from the freezer aisle- that I have been eating, for quite some time. Turns out my boyfriend bought them the other day, I usually have them as a grab n' go vegan morning breakfast....- they're not so vegan after all. That is sad news to me. Considering I thought I had been doing so well! Grrr! Milk and egg whites are hiding in the most smallest of places. You really, really have to know. Oh well I say.

milk happens. as long I wasn't intentionally having it- I suppose I still am in vegan mind state. But I will be more careful, for sure. As for the rest of this- I notice no difference in craving anything different. Besides struggling with a diet recently- 'on a budget' I wouldn't say anything else is a struggle. I have decided to do my best to reduce cost of spending for my food. It'll be hard -and I'm still working on it all. But I am trying- and I am going to put my best effort out there to figure out how this will work. I haven't figured out yet- if it's better to buy ahead, or the day of. People say it's good either way, but thats confusing. I'm not sure what is best for us.

Here are some tips from me- and then after that- tips from other sources- helping me.

1. I think setting a meal plan will keep my mind on what I will be making and also utilizing whatever it is I have also. Instead of letting it go bad. Also will help stay strong toward my healthy plan for the day.

2.Eat seasonally.

3.Buy in bulk.

4. Grains & Legumes and beans -instead of meat.

5.Skip processed foods.

- now this is easier than it looks. I know. But one thing you can skip is coffee. and drink green tea instead. Something I'm trying very hard to do. a box of green tea is far cheaper than a bag of coffee.
also- all the fun stuff i've been making with my extra income will be at an all time low. I'll be focusing on the goods already in my pantry- and try to get as creative as I can. As good as 'raw' food is. It is very expensive. I'll my miss my cashew cheese <3

Do you have any budget saving tips? If so -please share. I'm new to this- and need any help I can get.

I hope this post finds you well. I've been drinking a green smoothie as I write this. I tried something new today- I used my zico chocolate coconut water instead of the usual almond milk.

1 banana
large handful of kale
large handful of spinach
8 oz. zico chocolate coconut water
1 scoop of amazing grass greens.
2 tbsp chia seeds

It was delish. <3 i haven't been feeling good- so this made me feel a tad better.

on another green note.

I made avocado cream sauce again- this time, without the oil. i just added water instead.

I added this sauce to my mixed, red and regular quinoa.

I was pretty excited about this. I'm pretty sure I'm the first creating this 'green quinoa'.... don't ya think?

also- i created this video today. if you'd like to check it out! it's me singing one of my favorite songs from the movie Once. If you haven't seen it,you should really rent it. Very inspiring!

California...

definitely has the best weather- and I would have to say sunsets and sunrises. Something about the palm trees and the lovely temperature, always makes the outside here- pretty much the best feeling.


I am in a weird mood right now- I am happy with the now- yes. But I am extremely anxious for fall. Like seriously- please hurry up. I love it soo soo much. It's more than perfect.
But I need to shut up with that and stay IN the moment, and be happy about the sun shining so brightly and it being summer time still- It's just so nice, knowing football is soon to come on, pumpkins will be out and about soon.... and the smell of apple cider will be in the air. ah! mhmm.


Ok enough with all that- So here is that recipe for the avocado creamy sauce. Basically a lighter and more greener version to alfredo cream sauce. One word- Avocados my friend, avocados. I miss my avocados in my raw brownies, I made so many- and have ate one ever since the creation- and now their finished. :'(  They are the key to any creaminess you will ever need in any recipe of a natural green form. Their awesome! Not to mention their ability to make a mean guacamole be excellent. Oh, thank you Avocados. for being so awesome.

So here we go.-

• Avocado
• 1/4 cup of Basil
• 1/2 of a lemon -juiced
• 2-3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil

put all in a food processor and poof! you have your avocado creamy sauce folks ;) it's quite good on anything. This recipe came from Oh She Glows. and thanks be to her for it! Mhm!

like my quorn 'chicken' with ahem, my sweet potato rounds.

Whats that? Oh Sweet Potatoes you ask! Mhm hm indeed! Their in season! Yesssssssssssss! You know what that means- it's getting closerrrrr- sweet potatoes first, then other squash....ahem, like pumpkin. Hehe ;)
Ok ok ok.

All you have to do to make these amazing sweet potato rounds is cut a sweet potato into rounds- 2 if you'd like, put them in a mixing bowl, add rosemary and 2 tbsp. of olive oil or coconut oil ;) and then sprinkle on your cayenne, the hotter the better ya feel me! ;) Put them in the oven and cook for 15 min, flip and cook for 15 more min at about 425.

I had something very similar at Venice Ale House, and I just thought to myself- have to make these all the time at home. So even though they take 30 minutes. Their worth the wait!